Siam declares war!

[webfact]

Siam declares war!

By Phatarawadee Phataranawik 
The Nation

 

Overseas newspapers, filled with accounts of the war, can be browsed. Nation/Tanachai Pramarnpani

 

A century ago this year, King Rama VI committed Thai troops to battle halfway around the world

BANGKOK: -- There are many interesting aspects to the exhibition “Siam and the World War I Centenary”, not least the fact that the curator is a specialist in contemporary art. Chitti Kasemkitvatana brings vivid modernity to a century-old story in the show continuing at the King Vajiravudh Memorial Hall in Bangkok’s National Library until September 30.

 

Siam lost 19 men in the war, from an expeditionary force of 1,233 troops, though none fell in combat.

 

Chitti spent the past seven months working under the auspices of the King Vajiravudh Memorial Foundation under Royal Patronage, assembling photos, documents and other artefacts recalling King Vajiravudh’s declaration of war on faraway enemies 100 years ago.

 

The Kingdom of Siam declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary in mid-1917, three years into the European conflict. It came to be known as the Great War, and much later World War I, after the belligerents came to blows again in an even wider global struggle.

 

The exhibition opens with a wax likeness of King Rama VI in a striking, ruby-hued ceremonial costume, his left hand on the replica sword of King Naresuan in its scabbard, his right hand holding a twig of Java cassia, symbolising victory. A sacred bael leaf can be seen behind one ear.

 

The costume is an exact replica of the attire he wore when committing Siamese troops to battle in Europe. 

 

You know immediately this is going to be a visually interesting show. 

 

Chitti and his team uncovered little-seen documentation of those times, including newspapers and silent film footage from overseas covering Siam’s surprising entry into the war.

 

The soldiers returned wearing Croix de Guerre medals awarded by a grateful French government and, on reaching home, received Order of Rama decorations from the King, some of which are on display.

 

Much of the information presented was gleaned from Suchira Gutarak’s history textbook “King Vajiravuth and World War I”. It explains the background context of Siam’s declaration of war on July 22, 1917, aimed at upholding “impartiality and equality as well as maintaining international laws among righteous countries”.

 

A copy of the declaration itself is on view, bearing Rama VI’s signature, along with his speeches about the crisis and photos of him in various military uniforms, including that of a British Army general, an honorary rank he held. 

 

The King graduated from the Royal Military College at Sandhurst in 1898 and was briefly commissioned in the Durham Light Infantry, 

 

Bangkok has a First World War Volunteers Memorial near the National Museum and it too appears in pictures in the show.

 

A photograph taken at the conclusion of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, at which the so-called Versailles peace treaty was signed, features two Siamese princes: His Highness Charoon- sakdi Kritakara was there as minister plenipotentiary and His Serene Highness Traidos Praband- hu as under-secretary of state for foreign affairs.

 

“We found out online that there were archives of newspaper reports about Siam and World War I in Paris, so I asked my team member studying in Paris to scour the local antique shops,” Chitti says. 

 

“She was able to find this very important photo from the peace conference, in which the Thai princes are sitting next to French and American officials. It shows how significantly Siam was regarded at the time.”

 

After the war Siam became a founding member of the League of Nations, a precursor to the United Nations.

 

Its involvement was a key step towards overcoming unfair treaties that limited its commercial and legal autonomy. 

 

This was perhaps its most significant reward for having entered the war, a conflict that posed no direct threat to the country. Germany’s closest colonies were still very far away, in the Pacific.

 

Participating in the war, though, strengthened Siam’s international position – and also the monarchy’s domestic esteem.

 

Though it had maintained its independence from European colonial powers, Siam had been forced between 1889 and 1909 to cede territory to them in Laos and Cambodia along with its four southernmost provinces.

 

Rama VI believed that siding with the Allies in the war would result in better treaty terms for Siam.

 

The war also became for him a means to promote the concept of nationhood and to confirm his supremacy as head of state, which elements of the military had challenged in the Palace Revolt of 1912.

 

To the commitment to war we also owe the national flag as it’s known today. Rama VI had the former ensign – white elephant on red background – replaced in 1917. 

 

The new design, with red, blue and white stripes, was said to signify creed, crown and community, subsuming representation of the military, but at the same time it flew comfortably alongside the flags of Serbia, Russia, France, Britain and the United States. 

 

The new flag was first raised on September 28, 1917. Initially there were two common variants. As well as the five-banded version seen everywhere today, another kept the elephant on a red disc, superimposed over the new stripes. This one – still used by the Royal Thai Army – flew over the Siamese Expeditionary Force when it marched in the 1918 victory parade in Paris.

 

Among the fascinating newspaper accounts available to read, there is the Boston Journal’s evocative May 7, 1915, story about the sinking of the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania by a German U-boat. The outrageous attack on civilians convinced many countries, including Siam, to commit troops to the allied cause.

 

The 15-minute silent film depicting Siamese soldiers training and participating in the Paris victory parade was distilled from hours of footage acquired under licence from an archive under French Ministry of Defence.

 

The exhibition has an old black-and-white photograph of the 22 July Circle in Bangkok’s Yaowarat area, showing the five roads radiating outward. Each of those streets used to have the word “peace” in its name, in honour |of the peace that followed World War I. 

 

A colour shot of the same location shows how much it’s changed since. The streets have different names now. But, even 100 years later, people still remember.

 

HISTORY LIVES ON

 

- The exhibition “Siam and the World War I Centenary” continues in the King Vajiravudh Memorial Hall, part of the National Library compound on Bangkok’s Samsen Road until September 30.

 

- The hall is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 4.30pm. Admission is free.

 

- On the final day, from 2 to 6pm, a seminar will examine how the costumed wax statue of Rama VI was preserved for posterity. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/art/30326790

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-09-18

[leeneeds]

 

 

I would like to see the elephant back on their flag.

[Dave67]

I've never read such a detailed and realistic account of the events that changed world history. I always knew Thailand played an important role by supporting Righteous nations and was a founder member of the League of Nations after the so-called Treaty of Versailles. The Thai's were so committed to the so called world war 1 they committed 1233 soldiers, such elite soldiers, none of them died. There is a memorial in Bangkok for those who didn't die.

 

On behalf of the so called British Empire, I'd like to thank Thailand for their commitment and political nous in joining the so called Allies.

Edited September 17, 2017 by Dave67

[wakeupplease]

47 minutes ago, Dave67 said:

I've never read such a detailed and realistic account of the events that changed world history. I always knew Thailand played an important role by supporting Righteous nations and was a founder member of the League of Nations after the so-called Treaty of Versailles. The Thai's were so committed to the so called world war 1 they committed 1233 soldiers, such elite soldiers, none of them died. There is a memorial in Bangkok for those who didn't die.

 

On behalf of the so called British Empire, I'd like to thank Thailand for their commitment and political nous in joining the so called Allies.

Oh my

[Dave67]

Just now, wakeupplease said:

Oh my

Taking the P mate

[wakeupplease]

Just now, Dave67 said:

Taking the P mate

I kkkkkknow Dave. me to but not of you PP

[Dave67]

1 minute ago, wakeupplease said:

I kkkkkknow Dave. me to but not of you PP

Sorry buddy 

[wakeupplease]

Gave me a laugh, so don.t be well written, wanted to say something then decided I might get you know so played safe with 2 words

[Dave67]

Just now, wakeupplease said:

Gave me a laugh, so don.t be well written, wanted to say something then decided I might get you know so played safe with 2 words

Yeah you have to careful on this subject I was laughing as I was writing it

[wakeupplease]

1 minute ago, Dave67 said:

Yeah you have to careful on this subject I was laughing as I was writing it

Keep Well,  so well written, Will now do some research on the story as I did not know it happened, so probably read a different story somewhere or may of got abit confused. I will google it one day. Maybe.

[ezzra]

And they did all that without the needs for 3 submarines,

good for show only aircraft carrier or a colossal waste of money

blimp airship...

 

[klauskunkel]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Siam lost 19 men in the war, from an expeditionary force of 1,233 troops, though none fell in combat.

So, what did hey die of?

[DoctorG]

Just now, klauskunkel said:

So, what did hey die of?

homesickness?

[DoctorG]

What did they actually do over there? Does anybody know? Did they go anywhere near any combat zones? The article is somewhat remiss on this.

[klauskunkel]

5 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

So, what did hey die of?

 

4 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

homesickness?

no, they were reported as suicides. When the Thai police heard about that, they nodded their heads in admiration... and started to copy.

[JAG]

I've never read such a detailed and realistic account of the events that changed world history. I always knew Thailand played an important role by supporting Righteous nations and was a founder member of the League of Nations after the so-called Treaty of Versailles. The Thai's were so committed to the so called world war 1 they committed 1233 soldiers, such elite soldiers, none of them died. There is a memorial in Bangkok for those who didn't die.
 
On behalf of the so called British Empire, I'd like to thank Thailand for their commitment and political nous in joining the so called Allies.

The Durham Light Infantry (DLI), in which Rama VI briefly served raised 42 Battalions (each about 1000 strong). 22 Battalions saw battle. , 12530 men died in action. 6 VCs were won.

[Denim]

2 hours ago, DoctorG said:

homesickness?

SWS. Often fatal to Thai conscripts serving overseas.

 

( somdtam withdrawal syndrome )

[UnkleMoooose]

3 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

So, what did hey die of?

1,219 ganged up on the 14 in a fair Thai fight over some perceived grievance - possibly some noodles were served too cold, or something equally serious. Anyway, bravery all round, medals awarded.

Edited September 18, 2017 by UnkleMoooose

[starky]

3 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

So, what did hey die of?

Som Tam deficiency 

[dictater]

They made a better show of it in WW1 than in WW2 for sure. 

[Bluespunk]

5 hours ago, Dave67 said:

I've never read such a detailed and realistic account of the events that changed world history. I always knew Thailand played an important role by supporting Righteous nations and was a founder member of the League of Nations after the so-called Treaty of Versailles. The Thai's were so committed to the so called world war 1 they committed 1233 soldiers, such elite soldiers, none of them died. There is a memorial in Bangkok for those who didn't die.

 

On behalf of the so called British Empire, I'd like to thank Thailand for their commitment and political nous in joining the so called Allies.

19 died.

[otherstuff1957]

So, I went to Wikipedia to see what the troops actually did in Europe, and didn't find that info....

 

BUT, I did find that about 90% of the article in the op was copy/pasted from Wikipedia!  

Edited September 18, 2017 by otherstuff1957

[farcanell]

4 hours ago, DoctorG said:

What did they actually do over there? Does anybody know? Did they go anywhere near any combat zones? The article is somewhat remiss on this.

Lol.... much ado about nothing and I'm surprised that there is enough information for them to actually produce an exhibition!

 

they reached France on 31 July 1918, and were sent for more training (motor corp and aviators), as the years lead up after declaring war on those dirty rotten Huns (22 July 1917?) just wasn't enough time to teach them how to drive (on the wrong side of the road... what?... they got it right now, though)

 

in October the motor corp was transferred to a support role behind the front lines, and as a result, the Germans surrendered a couple of weeks later (11 November)

 

the 19 dead were from a combination of influenza and.... wait for it... wait... accidents! Yep... you got that right, right?... motor corp and accidents... big pat on the back if you were right

 

it goes without saying (almost... gotta say it) that the Thai troops did not get on that well with their allied partners... great loss of face because the king wanted to be the allied supreme commander or some such

 

the aviation detachment never saw the front line.

 

this was a socio economic move at the time, nothing more, ( which benefited Thailand, so that worked... kudo where due), but militarily, the Thai arrival of some 1200 under trained men, was lost within the arrival of some thousands of Americans, every day.

 

that said, I'm sure that the exhibition will be much more glorious to behold.

 

 

 

[Baerboxer]

7 hours ago, Dave67 said:

I've never read such a detailed and realistic account of the events that changed world history. I always knew Thailand played an important role by supporting Righteous nations and was a founder member of the League of Nations after the so-called Treaty of Versailles. The Thai's were so committed to the so called world war 1 they committed 1233 soldiers, such elite soldiers, none of them died. There is a memorial in Bangkok for those who didn't die.

 

On behalf of the so called British Empire, I'd like to thank Thailand for their commitment and political nous in joining the so called Allies.

 

"so called Treaty of Versailles" - no, it is actually called that.

 

"so called Allies" no the side which Thailand supported and served with was called "the Allies". Their opponents were called "the Axis", fyi.

 

And every man, woman, and often child, that served in that horrendous carnage deserves to be remembered. 100 years ago the third battle of Ypres was raging. Casualties were dreadful. More chance and luck as to who survives or get's injured. Many died from disease while well away from the front. 

[tryasimight]

3 hours ago, otherstuff1957 said:

So, I went to Wikipedia to see what the troops actually did in Europe, and didn't find that info....

 

BUT, I did find that about 90% of the article in the op was copy/pasted from Wikipedia!  

Hardly surprising as Wiki is mostly cut and paste from existing sources of information with people adding or modifying the information. 

Therein lies the danger of quoting from Wiki - people become so used to doing it, it has taken on a quasi font of all knowledge persona of its own. Anything quoted is taken to be indisputable fact - and it's not always the case.

You see it often on TVF.

 

Edited September 18, 2017 by tryasimight

[Dave67]

Source, No mention of Thailand

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_casualties

 

Source

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siam_in_World_War_I

 

 A War memorial dedicated to those died of Accidents and disease

 

Siamese casualties during the war amounted to 19 dead. Two soldiers died before their departure to France, and the remainder perished from accidents or disease. The World War Volunteers Memorial honoring the Siamese soldiers who died in the conflict opened on 22 July 1921, in Sanam Luang, central Bangkok.^[4] The last surviving member of the Siamese Expeditionary Corps, Yod Sangrungruang, died on 9 October 2003.^[7]

[Reigntax]

So as many Thai soldiers died in WW1 as die on Thai road war every 8 hours. There is somthing severly wrong with a society that is unable to face logical comparisons and reality.

Edited September 18, 2017 by Reigntax

[Dave67]

Moderated myself on that one

Edited September 18, 2017 by Dave67

[Assurancetourix]

12 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

So, what did hey die of?

Brothels ? Shyphilis ?

[bangrak]

'Siam declares war!', on Germany (Prussia then, I thought...) and Austria-Hungary, ...and a good 20 years later it was 'Thailand* declares war!' ...on the other side: France and the United Kingdom then, when Phibunsongkhram was the fascist dictator in power who wanted to please the Nippon empire he admired so much!

History as it is taught in Thailand is made of isolated pictures, some short clips at the best, never the 'whole movie'...

I remember one of my nephews talking so proudly about a 'great victory' of the Siamese against the armies of a neighbouring country he had been learning about at school, but it was obvioulsy not part of the curriculum to tell the kids that a short while later those neighbours came back, smashed the Siamese armies, burned down their capital city, and occupied a large part of the country...

I didn't have the heart to shatter the kid's proud (nationalistic) dreams, why would I have also, as I wouldn't have been standing next to him to protect him for the reactions from his brainwashed school surrounding, nor the, many, next times plain BS would be hammered inside his young head... Sigh!

* Another 'incoherence', ...to speak about the Thai revolution, when it is that same dictator who decided of the name change from Siam to Thailand ...in 1936 (or was it 1937?), so some years after that 'palace putsch' (fomented by disgrunted elites, with the help of some ultra-nationalist officers, against a Monarch who had too many social ideas menacing their power) which has, by all means then, wrongly been called: 'the Thai revolution', with very obvious reasons though...

Edited September 18, 2017 by bangrak